Job Description

About the Acton Institute

For thirty-five years, the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty has promoted a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles. We are an ecumenical, nonprofit research organization that promotes the benefits of free enterprise and the interdependence of moral principles and true freedom to religious communities, businesspeople, students, and educators. With an international scope, Acton manages a robust publishing and events outreach that argues for a moral foundation to the market economy. Wholly independent, the nonpartisan Institute works across many faith traditions including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Our intellectual research, teaching, and popularization at the intersection of faith and economics, morality and markets, and religion and liberty are unique in the liberty movement as is our reach among the religiously minded.

About the Role

The Acton Institute is looking for a data-driven and creative Annual Giving Officer to assist in raising private philanthropic funds to advance its mission. This individual will build upon existing efforts and work closely with the Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager, Development Operations Specialist, Vice President of Development, the marketing/communications team and the entire advancement team to create a comprehensive, metric-based, and donor-centric program that retains donors and elevates their giving, acquires new donors, reacquires lapsed donors, and identifies major gifts prospects. They will manage all annual giving activities such as direct mail, digital fundraising, crowdfunding, affinity group appeals, and other innovative initiatives to increase annual support to the institute.

The ideal candidate will have at least two years of fundraising experience, excellent communication skills – particularly in writing – proficiency with CRM’s, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a clear understanding of and alignment with Acton’s mission and vision. This is a full-time position located in Grand Rapids, MI, and reports to the Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager.

The projected salary range for this role is $50,000-60,000, contingent upon the specific skills and experience of the selected candidate.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement annual short-term and long-term strategic plans for annual fundraising
• Collaborate with the advancement team to use annual-giving best practices, data analysis, and emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, to determine appropriate cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies
• Craft inspiring and informative call-to-actions across multiple vehicles for current, lapsed, and prospective donors
• Create metrics to measure annual giving initiatives’ performance and success of acquisition, reacquisition, retention, and upgrading of annual donors
• Manage solicitation of annual giving prospects including but not limited to digital and direct mail, phone, text, and website
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communication department to create and execute all electronic solicitation materials and print materials (e.g. program impact reports)
• Collaborate with the Donor Stewardship and Events Manager to execute all stewardship plans for annual donors
• Partner with major gift colleagues to identify potential major and planned gift prospects from annual donors
• Assist with special projects as necessary
• Participate in other events and advancement activities as needed
• Actively pursue professional development

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in fundraising, preferably in annual giving or direct mail, or equivalent in combined education and experience
• Experience analyzing data and metrics to establish goals and create an annual fund strategic plan
• Adept at working with database systems and software packages for the purpose of segmentation
• Be an excellent writer capable of producing persuasive copy with ease and speed
• Possess high-level organizational skills and business acumen with the ability to prioritize work and follow-up with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong alignment with the Institute’s mission and culture, possessing the desire and ability to promote a free and virtuous society
• Have a commitment to lifelong learning and passion for the work of the Institute
• Demonstrate professional decorum at all times
• Treat coworkers and all Acton guests with respect and collaborate effectively as a team player with all members of the organization
• Be flexible, forthright, ambitious, comfortable in a fast-paced setting, thoughtful, and creative in achieving results
• Bachelor’s degree

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover letter including:
• An introductory paragraph describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to the Acton Institute’s mission
• Salary requirements
• Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Bailey Drouant, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: bailey@talentmarket.org

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.

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